The Los Angeles Rams had major issues on their offensive line this past season, specifically at guard and center. They decided to replace Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan with Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen, both of whom landed on injured reserve by Week 11.
Saffold left in free agency for a lucrative deal with the Titans, but it was the Rams’ choice to move on from Sullivan. They declined his option for 2019, which would’ve cost them $6.25 million and saved them $5.5 million in cap space.
Sullivan spoke to Rich Hammond of The Athletic recently about his transformation from NFL center to 240-pound retiree, and he said he would’ve been open to returning to the Rams – even as a backup for a lower price.
They encouraged him to stay in shape and told him they might re-sign him later in the offseason. Sullivan wanted to return, even at a lower salary, and even if it meant being a backup to young center Brian Allen.
The Rams didn’t select a center in the 2019 draft, which Sullivan saw as a potential opening for him to return and compete with Allen. However, in May, Sean McVay told Sullivan he wouldn’t be re-signed, but said he’d be one of their top candidates if they needed a center at some point.
“They didn’t draft a center,” Sullivan said, “so at that point in time, it signaled to me that there was a good likelihood that they were going to bring me back and that Brian and I probably would compete for the job. I was more than comfortable being a backup, if that was the direction they wanted to go.”
Sullivan wasn’t going to wait around forever for the Rams to make up their mind, though. He wanted to transition to his new life of being retired and taking care of his body.
“We’ve always communicated very clearly with each other,” Sullivan said, “so I just told (McVay) — and there’s no malice as I repeat this story — but I just told him that I’m not going to put my life on hold on the off chance that, at some point, you guys either have a need for me or you want to bring me back.”
The Rams could’ve used Sullivan last season after Allen went down, and even before that point. Allen struggled early on, especially in pass protection. Sullivan was by no means perfect in 2018, but he was still a quality player and veteran voice in the locker room.
When Allen got hurt, Austin Blythe switched from guard to center, causing other shakeups at left guard and right guard. It remains to be seen how the Rams will handle the center position next season, but it’s safe to assume Allen will get another chance to start.
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